Essential Eats: A Downtown LA Food Guide

Everyone and their mother has a favorite restaurant,
a tried-and-true haunt, and within the confines of those doors, a favorite dish
that keeps calling them back. With the Downtown LA scene showing zero signs of
cooling off, it’s a given that the food scene is at its polished prime.

This month, we asked some of our favorite Angelenos for the skinny on their must-hit Downtown LA restaurants and the dishes they can’t live without. Spaghetti with sea urchin, scallop and crab
sushi rolls, and classic queso dip are among the chosen few. Bookmark
this list of urban core eateries and add them to your rotation.

BESTIA

“Bestia is one of those restaurants that might make you question….everyone
likes it?! What gives? Nothing! Chef Ori has figured out how
to make really delicious food for the large number of people and that is a feat in itself. It’s their gorgonzola pizza that does it for me—I crave the
earthy cheese cooked with crisp, almost charred kale, mozzarella, grand padano,
and olive oil. Like everything else that comes out of that kitchen, I know
I’ll eat everything when I get there, so I make it worth it! The
spaghetti with sea urchin, calabrian chilies, and squid ink bottarga is a
signature there for a reason and it's probably my favorite dish on the menu. —Jessica
Koslow, chef of Sqirl

"I love Bestia and their roasted
marrow bone with spinach gnocchetti, crispy breadcrumbs, and aged balsamic.It's a
really surprising dish. At first, you're not sure how it's going to work, but
once the bone marrow mixes with the spinach gnocchetti, it creates one of the
most decadent bites you'll have in LA. " —Rudy Moujaes, creative director of Folklor

MARUGAME MONZO

“At Maragame Monzo, plum shiso bukkake udon is one of the best things to
eat on a hot day. The chilled noodles are springy and perfect, and I love
the salty pickled plum with shiso that they top it with. It's light and
refreshing while still being satisfying.” —Jessica
Koslow, chef of Sqirl

SHOJIN

“I have been going to Shojin for 3 years now and it never disappoints.
It is LA’s premiere all-vegan sushi restaurant and for this sushi lover, it’s imperative
that I get my proper sushi fix at least every couple months. It’s tapas style,
the sushi rolls have very creative names (Pirates
of the Crunchy, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Crunchy Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and
all ingredients are free of animal products, chemicals, and refined sugar (and
most items are also organic).

My two favorites are the spicy “tuna” on crispy rice topped with
avocado and tofu. The dynamite roll is a spicy tofu and avocado roll prepared
with brown rice served with both spicy mayo and beet sauce. As someone who has
partaken in the standard versions for many years, these definitely satisfy any
leftover cravings of my former, non-vegan diet.” —Valida Carroll, KCRW radio host, DJ and nightlife maven

HAMA SUSHI

“My favorite restaurant in downtown LA is Hama Sushi. Right in
the center of the historic core, it’s an easy in-and-out. It’s kind of like
stepping into a masu cup: minimal with quality and purpose. Everything is
wooden, clean, and geometric. The place runs so efficiently; there’s no room
for error. Its menu basically consists of hand rolls, which are timed to
perfection. My go-to is the standard 3-roll that typically consists of the
daily special, blue crab, and salmon. I’m obsessed with the little individual
sake glass cans, so be sure to order that, too. It’s very small, about 15 people
can sit at a time, so be prepared to wait in line!” —Lisa Solberg, artist

BAR AMA

"In LA, subscription boxes are very
popular—I'm talking about a company that mails you ingredients and a recipe
every week. I don't subscribe to any, but if chef Josef Centeno started a queso
club and I would receive queso consistently, I would be very, very happy.
Chef Josef already has four restaurants downtown: Baco Mercat, Orsa &
Winston, Ledlow, and Bar Ama. I frequent them all, but spend the most time at
Bar Ama. Josef is a highly-pedigreed, top-tier chef, but knows better than to
mess with classic queso. This isn't fancy queso. It's simple and is something I
insist on having on the table at each meal. I'll even pour some on the off-menu
puffy tacos, it's that good!" —Kris Yenbamroong, chef of Night + Market

“My favorite (and a forever staple) is KazuNori on Main and 4th,
hidden next to a parking garage and totally discrete. This place is amazing, because it's right by my design studio, fast, efficient, and delicious. It's
sushi bar style, so it's really quick, and they serve a set menu of hand rolls.
Normally, I'm a sashimi and cut roll gal, but the rolls here are simply to die
for. I love the scallop roll and the crab roll, ironically everywhere else
they're my least favorite, but here they're amazing! It's amazing sushi for the
price. Total gem.” —Maria
Korovilas, Designer

"I love KazuNori, the handroll restaurant downtown, brought to you by the SUGARFISH folks. Like most great things, it’s hard to explain what is magical about it. Partly, it’s the simplicity of the menu—they have six to eight handrolls and a couple of sashimi choices. Or maybe it’s the simplicity of the way the space works—it’s small, and there’s this very efficient queue and ordering system that eliminates everything between you and the food. And the end result is that you get this beautiful, tiny bundle of nori that is perfectly toasted and warm with delicious fish inside. Each piece is a gift that has been made just for you. Get the scallop." —Liz Lambert, founder of Bunkhouse

MACCHERONI REPUBLIC

"I am a bit of an outlier on this one, but my favorite
restaurant is Maccheroni Republic. It’s a very humble restaurant: all
fresh pasta and old school Italian dishes. I love it for its
honesty and integrity, and, as a father, for their fondness of my
daughter. My favorite dishes are the biggoli de nona, a thick chewy fresh pasta
with a deep rich oxtail ragout (it's also my daughter's favorite); and of course the
lasagna, a classic so well-represented here with a nicely acidic sauce,
bolognese, and soft flowing sheets of fresh pasta.” —Greg Bernhardt, chef of Paley

BADMAASH

“Badmaash is one of my favorite restaurants in the
city. It has a great energy; it’s really loud and fun. It’s a great mix of both
the traditional and more modern dishes, as well as a really fun place to eat." —Ari Taymor, chef of Alma at the Standard

SUSHI GEN

"Sushi Gen serves traditional, no-frills sushi and
sashimi. The price point is great, the place is always packed,, and it has no
pretension about it. Really good fish, really good service." —Ari Taymor, chef of Alma at the Standard

WEXLERS

"For the best bagel in the city, Wexler’s does really, really
good Jewish deli classics. I try to get a bagel and lox as often as I can, but
all the smoked meat and fish are excellent.” —Ari Taymor, chef of Alma at the Standard

G&B COFFEE

“I actually don't go out to eat very often, because
when I'm not at Alma, I enjoy cooking at home with friends. I have a love
affair with the coffee shops around town, but G&B Coffee in Grand Central Market
feels like the best date spot. The counter seating feels sort of bar-like and
the variety of drinks they have to offer is endless. I recommend the black
coffee and the turmeric drink served hot or cold." —Ashleigh Parsons,co-owner and creative director of Alma at The Standard

LITTLE SISTER

“When I last stayed at The
Standard, Downtown LA working on my This Charming Guest x Room Report project, I
checked out Little Sister. It was so good that I went twice with two different
groups of really picky eaters. Their menu is pretty spot-on, and if I had to
choose one thing that you must eat when you go, it would be the red braised lamb
curry with yams, herbs, pickled vegetables, and an onion pancake. Everything about
this dish is amazing. The lamb curry mixed with the vegetables does a cute two-step
in your mouth. The onion pancake which sits on top of the dish is not to be
ignored—use it to sop up all the curry. I believe this dish is made to share,
but I doubt you will want to. I didn't.” —Shaniqwa Jarvis, photographer

SONORATOWN

“Do I go because the food is
delicious? I mean, it is, but there are many places in Los Angeles cooking up
delicious and compelling Mexican food. Sonoratown is a great restaurant
because of its warmth and vibrancy. There’s a nowness to the place. I could
wax poetic about the handmade flour tortillas, at once both delicate and
hearty. The carne asada is properly grilled over a charbroiler (instead
of the ubiquitous flattop griddle). The chorizo is earthy and well-spiced. I've been there four times in the past three weeks and I couldn't
really tell you what I ordered each time because each dish was fantastic. (They
have a Chimichanga for God's sake!) All I know is that Jen and Teodoro
are excited by their restaurant, therefore I am excited by it.” —Jason Bernstein, co-owner
The Golden State, Bludso’s
Bar &
Que, Prime Pizza, and Cofax

BLACKTOP COFFEE

"Blacktop is my favorite spot to meet friends and hang. I love the wooden stool seating and outdoor area—it doesn't feel overcrowded. The staff is super friendly, the coffee is great and they offer delicious teas, both iced and hot.” —Ashleigh Parsons,co-owner and creative director of Alma at The Standard